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Why We Cannot Investigate NNPC – EFCC

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Why We Cannot Investigate NNPC – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it is waiting for the forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC accounts, before it will commence investigation into the alleged unremitted funds.

EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, made this known on Thursday at the commission’s 2014 budget defence before the Senate committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes.

Lamorde said investigations into the financial position of the NNPC were technical and required experts to conduct a comprehensive audit to unveil its true financial position.

He said that the outcome of the forensic audit of NNPC would provide the EFCC with the materials required to conduct criminal investigation into the accounts of the corporation.

“When this controversy started we had about three figures. Now we have settled more or less on 20 billion dollars. The minister of finance said that they want to commission an audit firm to do a forensic auditing of the finances of the NNPC. You need a professional firm to handle this. This is not a common investigation. These are very technical things,” he noted.

Lamorde added: “Let the audit be carried out. Let’s know exactly what we are talking about, understand what the figures are and criminal investigation can follow. You can’t start an investigation on nothing. You can’t put a super structure without a base. So, we need that base to put our own investigation on it.”

Lamorde told the committee that the anti-graft agency secured 117 convictions in 2013 and that it had already secured 30 convictions within the last two months.

He said the commission looked forward to securing not less than 150 convictions for financial crime offenders at the end of 2014.

The commission proposed a budget of N21.5 billion for 2014, explaining that the EFCC needed the sum of N9 billion to enable it complete construction of its permanent headquarters in Abuja; but the Budget Office proposal slashed it down to N10.2 billion.

Chairman of the committee, Victor Lar, expressed the disappointment of Nigerians in the failure of the EFCC to probe the missing oil funds.

“People are sad that in spite of the existence of the EFCC, there were no early warning or signs to have given a hint that such monumental breach were afoot. This idea of waiting for the National Assembly to complete investigations before you swing into action is baffling. It is escapist and I think it is not an acceptable approach because if you swing into investigations, the questions you ask are not the same as the ones we do,” he stated.

He, however, commended the EFCC for the high number of convictions it secured at various  courts and urged it to work toward achieving more in 2014.

Meanwhile, the auditor general for the federation, Samuel Ukura, said that 20 auditors trained in gas and oil auditing were examining the accounts of the NNPC.

Ukura said this when he appeared before the House of Representatives committee on Public Accounts in Abuja to defend the 2013 and 2014 budgets.

“We had a budget of N60 million for training and we were able to train 20 officers who are presently on the field auditing the accounts of the NNPC,” he said.

On the performance of the 2013 budget, Ukura told the committee that the recurrent budget was implemented 100 per cent while the capital budget was implemented only 57.7 per cent, amounting to N374.157 million.

In a remark, the chairman of the committee, Solomon Adeola (APC- Lagos), directed the AGF to submit all payment vouchers and receipts of payments and contracts awarded by his office.

He said the auditor general should again appear before the committee on Tuesday, March 4 to defend the 2014 budget.

African Leaders Resolve To Tackle Insecurity Across The Continent

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African Leaders Resolve To Tackle Insecurity Across The Continent

World leaders on Thursday agreed to redesign security architecture to effectively address the challenges of insecurity occasioned by insurgency and conflicts across the African continent.

The resolution is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day Nigeria’s centenary international Summit on “Human Security, Peace and Development: An Agenda for Africa” held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, read the communiqué of the summit which was attended by local and foreign participants, including 30 presidents and heads of government from Africa, Europe and other continents.

The leaders recognised that the enemies of the state today in Africa are faceless, driven by religious extremism, ethnic mistrust, rivalries and propaganda of hate and have therefore reached an agreement that any act of terror against one nation is an act of terror against all.

“Leaders agreed not to use their countries as havens for terrorists and to cooperate to adopt protocols that allow countries to pursue terrorists well into safe havens in other countries and manage their political boundaries to end trans-boundary terrorism and insurgencies,” the communiqué said.

It stressed that “the battle against terrorism is a battle for democracy,” and called for greater cooperation in intelligence gathering and sharing.

The communiqué also said that the African leaders resolved to stem the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which aid terrorism and other trans-nationally transmitted organised crimes.

Participants of the conference lauded the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to deal with the menace of Boko Haram sect and pledged their solidarity and support of their various countries in the war to deal with terrorism in Nigeria.

The Communiqué stated too that African leaders resolved to redouble their efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and culture in their respective countries especially through greater commitment to good governance, transparency and the rule of law.

To this end, it said cost of governance, elections and electioneering should be reduced to deliver the full dividends of democracy to their people.

The African leaders noted that the rising population of skilled and educated unemployed youths remains a major challenge to human security, peace and development and called for a sharp focus on creating jobs for Africa’s teeming youths in the areas of skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development, agriculture as a business and in terms of access to finance.

They also called for an urgent need to reduce inequality and ensure inclusive growth including social policies that improve access to food, water, housing and education that were crucial to inclusive social participation.

Transparency International Tells Jonathan To Step Up Fight Against Corruption

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Transparency International Tells Jonathan To Step Up Fight Against Corruption

The international watchdog, Transparency International, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to step up fight against corruption in Nigeria and fulfil his promise of ensuring full investigation into the “missing” $20 billion oil revenue.

The suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, first blew the whistle on the “missing” $20 billion which represents proceeds from oil which ought to have been remitted into the federation account domiciled in the bank by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

Transparency International chairperson, Huguette Labelle, said to win against corruption, Nigeria needs effective oversight institutions and no impunity for corruption.

“Missing revenues are depriving Nigerian citizens of a fair share of this wealth that could go to improving health, education and creating employment for the youth. The government owes it to the people of Nigeria to investigate this fully and hold to account those responsible,” she said.

The Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, has alleged too that the NNPC owes the government $ 8.3 billion in oil revenues for the years 2009-2011.

The organisation also calls on the federal government to move quickly to pass the much-awaited new oil law which could help deliver greater transparency and accountability in the country’s oil sector for the benefit of all citizens.

Nigeria is pumping an average of 2 million barrels of cruse oil per day, but despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, the country has some of the lowest human development indicators in the world. Life expectancy is only 52 years and 85 per cent of the population live on less than US$2 a day.

President Jonathan pledged zero tolerance to corruption when he took office in 2011 but a wider population of the country thinks that corruption has increased since his assumption into office.

Appeal Court Orders Former IG, Ehindero To Face Trial

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Appeal Court Orders Former IG, Ehindero To Face Trial

A Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has ordered a former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero back to the High Court to face criminal trial over alleged complicity in the misappropriation of about N557 million belonging to the Nigerian Police Force.

Ehindero, alongside a former commissioner of Police in charge of budget, John Obaniyi, were earlier arraigned before an Abuja High Court on a six-count charge preferred against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

ICPC lawyer, Paul Bassi, had told the court that according to investigations, the accused persons diverted the sum of N300million out of N557million donated to the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, by the Bayelsa State government under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The N557million was donated to the Police Force for the procurement of arms, ammunition and riot control equipment.

The commission said it traced N300million of the amount which was diverted to a fixed deposit account at Wema Bank Plc where it had already yielded an interest of N9.8 million and another N200 million in a fixed deposit account at Intercontinental Bank Plc where it has generated an interest of N6.5 million.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and were consequently admitted to bail following which they filed notices of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court as well as the leave granted the ICPC to file charges against them.

They also prayed the court to quash the six-count charge preferred against them by ICPC.

However, in his ruling on the objection, the trial judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, dismissed the application and asked the accused to go ahead and face their trial.

Not satisfied the accused persons approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the lower court.

They urged the court to determine whether the Abuja High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the charge against them wherein the allegation against him borders on the revenue of the Federation vis-a-vis the provision of Section 251 (1) (a) – (f) of the 1999 Constitution,

Ehindero and his counterpart also sought to know if there is a prima facie case linking him to the charge preferred against him by the prosecution, and whether in view of the constitutional powers of the Attorney General of the Federation AGF enshrined under Section 174(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) , Bassi, or any other officers of the ICPC, could validly prosecute him without a fiat of the AGF.

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday resolved all three issues raised by the appellant in favour of the prosecution and consequently ordered that the matter be sent back to the Abuja High Court for expeditious hearing.

The Appeal Court also affirmed the decision of the High Court in Charge No. FCT/HC/CR/92/2012 where the said High Court ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the criminal complaint brought against the accused person.

No date has been fixed for the trial.

ASUP Blames FG For Discrimination Against Poly Graduates, Vows To Continue Strike

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ASUP Blames FG For Discrimination Against Poly Graduates, Vows To Continue Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, said on Wednesday that the federal government is to blame for the worsening state of polytechnics in the country, as well as the discrimination against its graduates by employers of labour.

The union’s  public relations officer, Clement Chirman, said on Wednesday in Yola, Adamawa State, that it is regrettable that the federal government has not demonstrated enough will to accede to the teachers’ demands six months after it commenced a nationwide strike action.

Chirman told journalists that the attitude of government is a clear manifestation of government’s estimation of the importance of polytechnic education.

“It is this same perception that acerbated the discrimination and marginalisation of the sector and its graduates by both the public and private sectors of the economy. We make bold to say that the critical state of the polytechnic sector today has significantly been encouraged by government’s attitude and approach to issues concerning it,” he said.

He also blamed the country’s slow technological development on government’s insensitivity to polytechnic education.

The union therefore solicited the support of the members of the public in pressing home its demands, insisting that it would continue with its industrial action until the federal government grants its demands.

Some of the issues in contention include the migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale, the release of the White Paper on the visitation panels to federal polytechnics and the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics, among others.

Five Illegal Miners Found Dead In South Africa

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Five Illegal Miners Found Dead In South Africa

Five illegal miners have been found dead in an abandoned shaft near Johannesburg, emergency services said on Wednesday.

It highlighted the dangers of scavenging for bullion beneath Africa’s financial centre.

Two illegal migrants from Zimbabwe died earlier this month in another disused gold mine in the outskirts of Johannesburg.

Emergency services spokesman, Robert Mulaudzi, said the five bodies were brought to surface on Tuesday night and were confirmed dead at the scene.

The bodies were recovered in an old shaft in Roodepoort, just west of Johannesburg.

“We can’t confirm the cause of death yet, it could have been a number of things,” said Mulaudzi.

Driven by desperation and poverty in a country with an unemployment rate of around 25 per cent, illegal miners chance their luck in the labyrinth of some of the world’s oldest and deepest gold mines.

The miners are often armed with little more than a torch and pick-axe.

INEC Targets 500 Voters Per Polling Unit In 2015

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INEC Targets 500 Voters Per Polling Unit In 2015

From Jessica Tamaraduoye, Asaba

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it aims to achieve 500 voters to a polling unit in the 2015 general election to avoid overcrowding and promote transparency.

INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, disclosed this in Asaba, Delta State on Monday while delivering a keynote address at the opening of a two-day seminar organised in collaboration with the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, on the theme “Building Confidence in the Electoral System”.

Jega said the commission was working round the clock to create additional 30,000 units for the 2015 general elections, for effective management of persons and election materials.

He faulted the situation during the 2011 election where over 3000 voters were attached to one polling unit, saying the number was too large and does not comply with the global standard of 300 persons per polling unit.

“We need to break this numbers down to manageable sizes. The global best practice is 300 voters per unit. So for the 2015 election, we are aiming for 500 voters per unit. So INEC offices in the various states are busy creating polling units,” he said.

The chairman explained that instead of 120,000 polling units, the commission is proposing 150,000 polling units for the 2015 polls.

“This is huge and we have to provide the personnel, the security, pay allowances and move men and materials to the units,” Jega noted.

He also disclosed that the commission has also customised result sheet for each polling unit such that it will be difficult for desperate politicians in connivance with dubious electoral officials to substitute result sheets and on the other hand make it easy for INEC to replace result sheets that might have been destroyed through natural circumstances.

Reliving the November 16, 2013 governorship election in Anambra State, the INEC chairman stated that INEC cannot afford to under-estimate public trust and confidence, as hitches in one local government area (Idemili North) almost undermined the entire exercise in the other 20 local government areas.

“We wanted that election to be the best. If you study that election, you will find out that there were many areas of remarkable improvements over previous elections that we conducted whether in Ondo or Edo states. Unfortunately, logistics preparation in one local government out of 21 there was a messed-up,” he said.

He noted that materials, especially the result sheets were not properly distributed, there was “a huge mix-up” in Idemili North LGA.

Jega said before these materials could be retrieved, re-allocated and re-distributed, a lot of time had been wasted, causing the voters to became agitated.

Declaring the seminar open, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, called for maximum support for election management bodies across the country by all stakeholders, to ensure credible and acceptable elections.

Earlier, in his welcome address, chairman of Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, Moses Ogbe, noted that the seminar became necessary to build the capacity of electoral officers in conducting credible polls that would ultimately restore public trust and confidence in electoral management bodies.

INVESTIGATION: Nigeria’s Accountant-General, NAICOM In Alleged Record-Breaking N3.54 Billion Scandal – PremiumTimes

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INVESTIGATION: Nigeria’s Accountant-General, NAICOM In Alleged Record-Breaking N3.54 Billion Scandal – PremiumTimes

It appears a new kind of fraud in Nigeria. A contract was duly awarded by government to some private firms.

But when it was time to make payment for job done, the N3.538billion contract sum was diverted to an entirely different set of companies.

The companies which received payment did not bid for the jobs, were not awarded the contract and are not known to have offered any service.

The firms which offered service but have now been deprived their legitimate earnings are now crying foul.

They are accusing the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGF, of masterminding what appears an unprecedented fraud — diverting the insurance premium due to them (42 insurance companies) to other entities.

Already, a legal firm representing the affected insurance firms, Alade Agbabiaka & Co., has petitioned the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Attorney-General/Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, seeking their intervention in the matter.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Director General, Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPP, Emeka Ezeh; Accountant General of the Federation, AGF, Jonas Otunla, and the National Commissioner of Insurance, National Insurance Commission, Fola Daniel.

The petition, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Alade Agbabiaka & Co., described the action of NAICOM and OAGF officials as “completely astonishing, unlawful and absolutely out of order.”

Counsel to the aggrieved insurance firms indicated that the BPP subjected over 40 insurance brokers who bided for the job to a screening and selection process in line with stipulated guidelines.

At the end of the screening, AIICO Insurance PLC and Standard Insurance Consultants Limited were appointed lead insurer and broker respectively to provide Group Life Assurance for employees of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.

The deal was approved by the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, HCSF, for the two firms to provide life cover for the police from January 1 to December 31, 2013.

In a letter, with  referenced number HCSF/SW/SS/GLA/B/1019/1/ and dated September 6, 2013, the HCSF conveyed government’s approval for the two firms  to serve as lead brokers, while a consortium of 40 other insurance firms were listed as underwriters.

Under the scheme, the Federal Government agreed to pay a total of N3.538billion as premium to the 42 companies listed as underwriters.

With the offer accepted and agreements and memorandum of understanding, MOU, signed by AIICO, the BPP issued a certificate of due process, following the approval of the deal by the Executive Council of the Federation, FEC.

After obtaining relevant approvals and certification, AIICO Insurance issued a policy cover and a debit note referenced: 252/2013/ABJ, to seal the contract.

However, while premiums for similar policies approved by the HCSF, in the Ministry of Police Affairs and Ministry Lands, Housing and Urban Development were paid when due, that of police formations and commands totaling N3.537billion were withheld by the OAGF.

On January 7, 2014, the insurance firm wrote to the AGF, reminding him of the pending premium to the affected insurance firms but the AGF never responded to the letter.

A source in AIICO, who pleaded anonymity, because he is not authorised to speak on the issue, told PREMIUM TIMES that further enquiries at the AGF’s office revealed the premium was diverted and paid to Crusader Insurance/Custodian & Allied Insurance PLC along with Hogg Robinson, as the lead insurer.

The transaction, the source said, was based on a memo purportedly sent by NAICOM to the office of the AGF.

But the petitioners have insisted that Crusader/Custodian & Allied Insurance PLC and its ally, Hogg Robinson, neither bided for the contract, nor went through the due process clearance by BPP.

The law firm also noted that the certificate of no objection and requisite approval by FEC, never included Crusader/Custodian & Allied Insurance PLC and its ally.

When contacted, the Director-General, BPP, Emeka Ezeh, said the involvement of his agency in the transaction ended with its issuance of Certificate of Due Process.

He, however, noted that any unlawful diversion of entitlements to any entity outside the parties duly awarded the contract, constituted a criminal breach that should attract legal sanctions.

Mr. Ezeh, who confirmed receipt of a copy of the petition by the aggrieved insurance firms, said the document was forwarded to all relevant authorities, including the HCSF, for necessary action.

“It is only when the Head of Service has responded that we (BPP) would know what to do”, Mr. Ezeh said.

Officials at the Ministry of Police Affairs and the HCSF refused to speak on the issue.

A similar enquiry at the Crusader/ Custodian & Allied Insurance PLC, said to have been paid the alleged diverted premium, was rebuffed.

An official of the insurance firm, who received calls from PREMIUM TIMES, noted that no staff of the company was authorised to respond to such enquiry, except the Public Relations Officer, PRO, who was said to be on vacation.

Also contacted, the National Commissioner of Insurance, Fola Daniel, denied knowledge of any letter from NAICOM directing the OAGF to divert the said premium to Crusader/Custodian & Allied Insurance.

Mr. Daniel, who spoke through the Assistant Director/Head, Corporate Affairs of NAICOM, Rasaq Salami, however confirmed receiving a copy of the petition on the issue, saying he has already invited all the parties involved to a meeting to amicably resolve the issues.

“No other agency is better placed to say why the alleged diversion was done than the Police themselves,” Mr. Salami said. “The Police always deal directly with the insurance companies, and they decide which company to use and how much premium to pay.

“NAICOM does not get involved at all, except where its advice is sought on the registered and viable companies for a particular transaction,” Mr. Daniel said.

The spokesperson at the OAGF, Charles Nwodo, said he would not respond to inquiries from PREMIUM TIMES, until he sees “concrete evidence of the memo authorizing the alleged diversion.”

Long after a Freedom of Information, FOI, request was submitted by PREMIUM TIMES to the OAGF, to formally react to the allegations raised in the petition, no reply was received as at the time of publishing this report.

President Jonathan Condemns Yobe College Killings

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President Jonathan Condemns Yobe College Killings

President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the killing of scores of students by suspected terrorists at a college in Yobe between late Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday and has extended his heartfelt condolences to the parents and relatives of the murdered students.

His condolence  message is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Reuben Abati.

The statement reads: “The President wholly condemns the heinous killing of the guiltless students. He assures the nation that his administration will not relent in its ongoing efforts to end the scourge of terrorism in parts of the country, which has sadly claimed more innocent lives today (Tuesday).”

The special adviser said the President also assures that the armed forces and other security agencies would continue to prosecute the war against terror with full vigour, diligence and determination.

The supervising minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, has also condemned the attack on the innocent students, saying the ministry would continue “to liaise with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to improve security around all federal unity colleges”.

Wike also commiserated with the families of the bereaved and prayed God to grant the bereaved families the strength to bear the unfortunate loss.

Insurgents on Monday attacked the college at about 11.30 p.m., killing over 40 students in a siege that lasted five hours.

Gov Oshiomhole Confirms Plan To Sack More Teachers In Edo

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Gov Oshiomhole Confirms Plan To Sack More Teachers In Edo

By Kevwe Ebireri/Jefferson Ibiwale

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State is set to drop more teachers in public schools as part of intervention to salvage the sector from decadence and restore it to the path of excellence.

Oshiomhole made this known on Monday during an Education Summit held at the Imaguero Collage, Benin City, to access the level of progress achieved so far in the sector.

He said being a product of public school, he has a duty to restore public schools in the state to its former glory so that poor people in the state can afford quality education for their children.

The governor stressed that the poor performances of students in external examinations has its foundation in the poor quality of teachers, noting that if the teacher is defective,  it will inevitably rub off on the pupils he or she teaches.

He noted sadly that during a recent verification exercise conducted for teachers in the state, it became clear that over a thousand teachers were either untrained, over-aged, deficient (stuttering or physically challenged), or unable to express themselves in simple correct spoken or written English.

The result of keeping this class of people in the industry, he said, is the half-baked students produced who are either unable to cope in external competitions or unable to defend their results, as in the case of those who patronise “miracle centres”.

Oshiomhole noted that when his administration came on board in November 2008, the state was notorious for these “miracle centres”. A miracle centre is a place (usually a school) where examinations are compromised to ensure that registered students almost always come out in excellent grades.

He therefore added that the decision of his administration to sack more teachers should not be misconstrued, as it is a simple case of replacing the bad with the good;, noting also that there were a lot of young qualified persons, even of Edo origin, willing to work and who should be given an opportunity.

“We have spent time in reviving education in Edo State, we are also clear that we have made investment in the sector. We want a situation where certificates, which students earn will be a true reflection of their studies. We will now change from competency test to assessment test,” the governor said.

Stakeholders at the meeting insisted that the teachers must submit themselves to the test, stressing that those who had skeletons in their cupboard were the ones  afraid to take the test.

A former vice chancellor of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University, Dennis Agbolahon, was appointed chairman of a committee to conduct the assessment test.

However, labour leaders and the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, shunned the summit saying its outcome was already predetermined.

It would be recalled that the teachers and the state government have been at loggerheads over plans by the state government to conduct a competency test for teachers, a move the teachers have vehemently opposed.

State secretary of NUT,  Akin Adeojo, who spoke to journalists on phone, said it was unnecessary to attend the summit as the state government had concluded plan to sack teachers in the state.

“We did not attend because the outcome was already pre-determined. The governor wants teachers to write the competency test at all cost. We would have attended if we saw that the summit would be fair. What is the point discussing an issue that has been decided?” he questioned.

He recalled that the governor had previously sacked 926 teachers in December last year and is not satisfied.

Oshiomhole said during the summit that the state government will continue to explore ways to reach out to the union to brainstorm on the best way out of the crisis.

The meeting had in attendance traditional rulers, parents, market leaders, retired educationists, civil society groups, members of the state executive council and traders.

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